Luminous display device



Sept. 3, 1963 GUMPERTZ LUMINOUS DISPLAY DEVICE Filed March 23, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 .QZZJQQ #Irak/van:

Sept. 3, 1963 D. G. GuMPI-:R'rz 4'3,103,007

LUMINous DISPLAY DEvIcE Filed March 23, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 'LQ JNVENToJa. DOMHD 621415537;

Sept. 3, 1963 D. G. GUMPERTZ 3,103,007-

LUMINoUs DISPLAY DEVICE I Filed March 25, 1959 'r shets-sneez z IN V EN TOR.

i ugm Sept 3, 1963 D. G. GuMPERTz 3,103,007

LUMINOUS DISPLAY DEVICE Filed March 23, 1959 '7 Sheets-sheet' 4 HW lu' xmr /76 MJ' JNVENToR. fia/mm Gua/kmu Sept. 3, 1963 D. G. GuMPr-:RTZ

JLuMINoUs DISPLAY DEvIcE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 23, 1959 INVENToR. 0044410 6? z'uMff/rrz ATTO/H/EK? SePt- 3, 1963 D. G. GUMPERTZ 3,103,007

LUMINoUs DISPLAY DEvIcE I Filed March 25; 1959 7 Sheets-sheet e IPI/31075 REJ'ET Sept.l 3, 1963 D. G. GuMPl-:RTZ

LUMINous DISPLAY DEvIcE '7 Sheets-sheet 7 Filed March 25, 1959 through each of the indicia plates.

. less than the lateral dirnension of the plate. selected plate is displaced, a new pattern of aligned trans- United States Patent O V 3,103,007 LUMINOUS DISPLAY DEVICE Donald G. Gumpertz, 3973 Lanlrershim Blvd.,

North Hollywood, Calif. Filed Mar. 23, 1959, Set. No. 801,153 8 Claims. (Cl. 340-347) This invention relates to the visual display of indicia. More particularly, the invention refers to a device in Which the image of alphanumeric characters is projected upon a display surface by an illumination system. The selection of the character isv accomplished by manual or electromechanical means. 1

The device may beemployed as a single unit, or groups of devices may be assembled for visual display of legends. For example, a group of devices may be employed to provide a visual 'alphanumeric readout from a binary storage. p

Various types of compact visual readout devices are known in the art, in which a character is presented on the full screen. Such devices fall generally into' two categories: (1) optical focusing devices, and (2), character Synthesis devices. Thepresent invention does not require fthe special expensive lenses required by optical focusing devices, and the appearance and recognizability of characters is superior to that of character synthesizing devices. Furthermore, the present invention does not require multiple illumination sources, as do both of the conventional devices.

In its preferred embodiment, the present invention employs a translucent screen for the display of indicia. A source of illumination is placed to the rear of the screen so as to illuminate it, and a series of indicia plates, resembling photographic negatives in appearance, are positioned between the source of illumination and the screen, so that any light reaching the screen must pass successively Thus, the indicia cast upon the screen will represent only those portions of the screen not obscured by any one of the indicia plates. The shifting of any one of the indicia plates in a direction perpendicular to the path of light through the plates will therefore cause a change` in the shadow cast upon the screen.

According to'the invention, each indicium plate has a selected pattern of transparent and Opaque areas. In the preferred embodiment, each plate corresponds to an alphanumeric indicium. The plates are placed in a preselected alignment between the source of illumination and the display surface, so that the representation cast upon the display 'surface is formed by light passing through those transparent areas simultaneously in alignment in all of the plates. The plate correspondingto the indicium desired to be represented is then displaced from the preselected alignment. The physical extent of the displacement required is dependent upon the dimensional characteristics of the code used on the plates. In the preferred embodiment, the amount of displacement is much When the parent areas is set up. and, the pattern on the plates having been so designed, the desired indicium is cast upon the display surface.

In vthe preferred embodiment, a coding plate is utilized to set the overall pattern of illumination. In this embodiment, the coding plate remains stationary, and the light passing through transparent 'areas formed by the Shifting of indicia plates must also pass through the fixed trans- ICC plates. The camming surfaces are mounted on drive shafts the rotation of which is controlled to give the desired cam alignment so that the proper indicium plate is displaced.

The invention may be more readily understood by referring to the drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of three display units grouped together;

FIGURE 2 (parts (A) and (B) taken together) illustrates the transparent and opaque patterns of an indicium plate and a coding plate;

FIGURE 3 illustrates the pattern formed by the superposition of the plates of FIG. 2;

`FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of indicia plates, coding plate, and screen aligned so as yto display the numeral 7;

I FIGURE 5 is a perspective viewof the camming mechanism, and drive mechanism therefor, for the plates as I' shown in FIG. 4;

ing and displacing device utilized with plates of the type illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIGURE 11 is a 'view of another alternate embodiment of a 7 indicium plate; f

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of the plate aligning and displacing device utilized with plates of the type illustrated in FIG. 11;

FIGURE 13 (parts (A)-(C) taken together) illustrates the operation of the binary check circuit pulse generator;

FIGURE 14 (parts '(A) and (B) illustrates the operation of the alphanumeric conversion pulse generator;

FIGURE 15 is a Wiring diagram of the actuation and check circuits 'for a luminous display device according to the invention; and

FIGURE 16 is a Wiring diagram of an indicium setting switch of FIG. 15.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a three digit I display device 1-1 consisting of a first display device 12, a second display device 13, and a third display device -14 I grouped together. The first display device 12 has a screen 15 which displays the numeral 7. The second display device 16 has a screen 16 which displays the numeral 6iS, and the third display device 14 has a screen 17 which displays Vthe numeral 3. A first control cable IShaving a terminal plug 19 is connected to the first display device 312 at a plug receptacle 20. Similarly, a second control cable 21 having a terminal plug 22 is connected to the second display device 13 at a receptacle 23 and a third control cable 24 is connected to the third display.

device -14 by means of a plug 25 and a receptacle 26.' The control cables 118, 21, and 24 are also connected to a control center (not shown) from which the information to be displayed is transmitted to the individual display devices.

` In'FIG. 2, there are illustrated typical plates utilized in the display of indicia. In FIG. 2-(A), there is shown a plate 31 having opaque squares 32 and transparent parent areas of the coding plate in order to reach the view- Therefore, the coding plate is utilized to A series of camming surfaces are utilized in the preferred embodiment to control the displacement of the indicia squares 33. The plate 31 is utilfized to display the numeral,

79 in conjunction with a coding plate 35 illustrated in FIG. 2(B). The coding plate 35 has opaque squares 36 and `transparent squares 37 :arranged in alternate fashion. If the coding plate 35 is superimposed over the 7 plate 31, While maintaining the horizontal offset of one square illustnated between l(A) and (B) of FIG. 2, the resultant transparent Iarea pattern is identical With that of the cding pllate 35, since there is superimposed over each opaque square 32 of the 7'p llate 3'1 an Opaque square 36 of the coding plate 35, while some of the transparent squares 33 of the 7 plate 311 `also have opaque squares 36 superimposed over them. For example, the transparent square 37 of the 7 piate 311 has an opaque square :38 superimposed over it byV the coding plate 35. I

` v If-the 7 plate 31 and the coding plate 35 Vare now lialigned horizontally, by eliminating the one square Ioifset il-lustrated in FIIG. 2, the superpositiorl results in the formation by the resultant transparent :area pattern of the numeral 7, 'as is illustrated in FfIG. 3. For example,

theopaque squares 36 will still be present, but now opaque squares 39 I(FIG. 2J(A)) lare positioned so as to prevent the passage of light from behind the 7 plate through transparent squares 40 of the coding plate. However, a

tnanspare'ntfsquare 4-1 of the 7 plate (FIG. 2!('A) which, bprior to horizontal alignment was obscured by the V opaque square 42 of the coding plvate 35 (FIG. 2(B)),

now has a transparent square 43 of plate 35 supeiimposed over it,r resulting in a transparent area. The combination of such transparent areas form the desired indicium, in

, this oase the numeral 7.

production aspect, the use of circles rather than squlares for either the opaque or the transparentportions is desirable. It is apparent that the types of representation possilble With the above described system lare not limited to numerical, alphabetic, or alphanumeric indicia. For example, ,anything capable of photographic reproduction maybe reproduced by lthe invention. Therefiore, as used herein, alphanumeric refers toany representation wlhich l 'may be photographically reproduced.

It is to be noted that the above described system utilizes a separate piate for each indicium. I-Iowever, the invention mayV also be utilized with indicia presentation systems in which the indicia are 'synthesized by approximation thnofugh the selective combination o f lines. In suchn a system, plates represent the required lines, and a combination of plates is utilized to give the resultant transparent 'area to form the desired indiciu'm. Further-more, the invention is equaily applicalble to the formation of dark figures with a light backgorund, by transposing the tnansparent and opaque portions of the pi-ates illustrated.v

It has been determined that, for luminous displays, the perceptibility by hum-ansof a light figure against a dark 'background is greater than the perceptibiiity, in an equivalent system, of a dark figure against a light backgonmd, andltherelfiore only the former system is described herein;

f FIGURE'4 illustratcs the Klispiay and indicia forming components of the first display device y12 (FIG. 1). The components of F'IG. 4 are :arranged to form the numeral 7. A source of iiiuminsfion depicted as a Light 51 and a relieotor 52 projects a beam of light toward -a display `screen 453 through a coding plate 54, a 0 plate 55, a

I plate 56, a 2 plate 57, a 3 pl-ate 58, la 4 plate 59, 'a' 5 plate 60, a 6 plate 61, a 7 plate 62, an 8 plate 63, and a 9 plate 64. It should be noted that thecoding plate 54 and the 7 plate 62 are displaced in aV :horizontal direction from the alignment of the remainling indicia plates 55-61, 63, 64. The displacement `corre-l sponds to the' displacement described hereinbetore with respect yto FIGS. 2 land 3. In the embodiment o-f FIG. 4,

` all of thel indicia plflates 55-64 lare normally in *a linear alignment, and the coding piate 54 is offset from this ailign- V Jment.` IIn order to display a numeral on the screen 53,

the -plate corresponding to the desired numeral is displaced from the indicia piate alignment :and so positioned with respect to the coding pliate 54 and the remaining indicia plates that a pattern of transparent rareas common to all of the indicia piates 55-64 and the cold-ing plate 54 is formed. The light rays from the light source 51 are formed into a beam by the reflector52 and pass through these common areas to strike the display screen 53, forming the desired numeral thereon.

FIGURE 5 depicts :a mechanism for converting a Ibinary ooded information input into its decimal equivalent land 'driving a system such as that ililustnated in FIG. 4 so `as to display said decimal equivalent. A series of cam shafts 71,v 72, 73 and 74 act :as a binary dccimai converter and pllate selector. All numeral plates except for the 9 plate 64 have been omitted from FIG. 5 for purposes of clarity. The remaining numeral plates 55-63 `yare indicated by the corresponding primed numbers 55'-63' associated with the fragmentary portions of the numeral plates shown in FIG. 5. A series of springs 75-84 is connected at one extremity to a wall of the device, and each of the sp-rings 75-84 is connected under compression to a numeral piate at its other extremity. Therefore, each numeral plate tends to be forced away from the w-all 85. For example, the 9 plate 64 is connected to the wa-ll 85 by a spring 84funder compression. The 9 piate 64 is therefore forced away from the wali 85, lbut is retained in its position by a cam 86 associated with the cam shaft 72, a cam 87 associated with .the cam shaft 73, and a cam 88 associated with the cam shaft 74. HOW- ever, the spring 82 is in its extendedposition, indicating th'at the numeral plate 62', the 7 pl-ate, is out of ralign- 'ment With the remaining plates 55-61', 63' land 64. The Shifting of the numeral plate 62' is possible because a' cam 90 associated with the cain shaft '71, a cam 91 associrated with the cam shaft 72, a cam 92 :associated With the cam shaft 73, and a cam 93 associated with the cam shaft 74, lare all in their vertical positions. TheV 3 plate is retained in its aligned position, since, although its caml 94 associated with the shaft 71 is in its vertical position, as are its carns 95 and 96 associated respectively with the shafts 72, and 74, its oam 97, Vassociated with shaft 73, is in a horizontal position and retains the 3 plate in its positionof lalignment with the other .numeral plates. Thus it may be seen that the cam positions correspond to a' `binary decimal conversion code, in* wlhich a `0 corresponds to a vertical position vand a 1 Vcorresponds'to a horizontal position, each shaft being rotatable through a ninety degree larc, and the shafts 71, 72, 73 and 714 corresponding to the 1,'2, 4 and 8 id-igits respectively.

. -V Binary number Decunal' number shaft 74 Shaft 73 Shaft 72 Sirait; 71

0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 1 1 4 0 1 0v 0 `5 0 l, '0 1 t 0 1 1 0 7 0 1 1 1 8 1 0. 0 0 9 1 0 1 It is therefore apparent that the cam shafts 71, 72 and 73, las shownin FIG. 5, have been rotated 90 clockwise from their zero input positions-While the cam shalfit 74 remains in its zero input position. The selective activacauses a solenoid arm 1112. to retract.

tion of the cam shafts Vmay be illustrated by `a description of the operation of the cam shaft 74, corresponding to the 'fourth binary ldigit place or the 8 decimal digit. When the binary digit 1 in the fourth binary place is applied to the system, a relay '(not shown) is energized, applying an energizing 'potential to la pair of input leads 1611) connected between the connector 20 (FIG. 1) and a solenoid 101 (FIG. 5). Energization of the solen'oid 101 A crank 103 connects the solenoid arm I192 to the cam shaft 74. Retraction of the solenoid arm 102 causes the crank 1113 to notate the cam shaft 74 in a clockwise direction. solenoid 'arm is'connected to 'a container wall 104 by means of a spring 105 Which is under tension. Thus when the solenoid 101 is not 'energizedg the spring 105 Will cause the solenoid arm 102 to assume its de-energized position (the position shown in FIG. 5). When it is desired to change the display of the luminous display device, the energizing relay (not shown), which was ment-ioned previously, is de-ener-gized, and the energizing potential is thereby removed from the solenoid 11111, whereupon the cam shaft '74 is returned to its rest position through the action of the spring 105. 4

Relferring now to FlG. 6, there is shown a partial schemlatic diagram of theluminous display device 12. ln addition to the components previously described, there is shown a first binary digit =(1) solenoid 11% having 'a solenoid arm 111, a second binary digit ("2) solenoid 112 having a solenoid arm 113, and a .third binary digit `(''4l-'') solenoid 114 having a solenoid arm 115. All of these solenoids 1411, 1-10, 112, l114 have a common return lead 116; and the first binary digit solenoid 110 has an energizing lead 117, the second binary digit soleno-id 1112 has an energizinig lead 1-18, the third'tblinary digit solenoid 114 has =an energizing lead 119, and the fourth binary digit solenoid 1tl1 has an energizing lead 12th. rThese leads 116, 117, 118, 119, 12,0 are terminated at a set of connector terminals 131. The first, second and third binary digit solenoid `arms 1'11, 113 and 115 are connected to the container Wlall 104 by springs 122, 123 and 124 respectively. First, second, third, fourth 'and fifth guide members125-129 maintain the alignment of the cam shafts. The lateral 4alignrnent of the numenal plates 55 64 may be bmaintained by ..any conventional means. For example, each plate may be equipped With runners Which ride in grooves located on the upper land lower surfaces of the container for the device 12. The coding plate 54 is attached to the container Walls 104, 85 by members 130, 131 respectively. The display screen is attached to the 'container Walls 104, 85 by members 132, 133 respectively.

The :device hereinbefore described utilizes binary-decimal conversion and 'cam shafts to displace the desired plate. However, ialternately, a separate relay may be utilized to displace each plate, or plates may Ibe Vdisplaced maxm'ally. Additionally, various special relays may be used to furnish a memory function. [It should be understood that the four Ibit binary code illustnated is utilized for expl-anatory purposes only. Conventional six hit binary codes may be utilized to produce alphanumeric display, the only limitation being that |.for each additional bit added to the binary code, ian additional cam shaft *and drive means must be added to the system described. Also, the motion of the cam shafts need not be in a reciprocating manner. Cam shafts may .be driven in a unidirectional rotary manner by any conventional means, a gear system Ifor example, and a plurality of codes may lbe placed on a single shaft so that 360 rotation is not necessary to reset the shaft to its zero position.

'l'lhe display system described utilizes a coding plate to insure that no sp-urious btransparent vareas occur. However, in a practical system in Which'm-any indicia plates lare used, the Statistical probability of liaving la spurious transparent area without the coding plate is very low. Tlherefiore, in certain applications, the use of a `coding The plate in the display device is not necessary. Alternatively, the physical structure of the device may make it advislable to use :a number of coding plates intermixed with indicia plates. In addition, While the system described utilizes a displayscreen, any surface so situated as to allow the light passing through the resultant transparent area to fall thereon may be utilized, Iand it is therefore to be undenstolod that the invention is not limited to the use of a display screen physically attached to the device. Direct viewing of theplates without the use of any display screen may also .be utilized in certain applications. In such applications, the alignment of the viewer with the pliates and light source eliminates the necessity :for having a display surface.

FIGURE I7 illustrates an alternate embodhnent of |`an indicium plate. Such a plate may be readily formed by the photo-etching process hereinafter described. An indicium lplate 31' contains the same pattern las the indicium pliate 31 of FIG. 2(A). In addition, the indicium plate 3-1' has a pair of springs 1141) formed on |its upper sunface. These spnings are adapted to ride 'against the top surface of the luminous display device so as to urge 'the plate 31' `downward. Four indentations 142, 143, 144, Land v lare formed preferably on the bottom peripheral surface of the plate 31'. These indentations are spaced so as to represent Va binary code. For example, the space between the indentation 142 land the indentation 143 is greater than the space between the indentation 144 and the indentation 145. A broad space is provided between the lindentation 143-and the indentation 144, the reason for Which Will be described With respect to FIG. 8.

FIGURE 8 illustrates a device which maybe used to control the alignment and displacement of indicia plates such as shown in FIG. 7 from a preselected alignment. The plates are housed as previously described, except that the cam and spring surfaces utilized to provide the lateral displacement illustrated in FIG. 5 are replaced by slides or grooves in the side Walls of the device Which limit lateral displacement of the plates but allow vertical displacement.

The luminous display device (FIG. 8) has an upper housing surface 1415 against Which the springs 140I rest.v The indentations on the lower surface of the indicium plate 31' are illustrated in FIG. 8 as engaging` four rotatable bars 146, 147, 148 and 149 Which run longitudinally through the display device. Each of the rotatable bars 146, 147, 148 and 149 has associated therevWith a relay and a restraining spring. When the relay is energized, the rotatable bar is rotated counterclockwise.

` When the relay is de-energized, the rotatable bar is rotated clockwise by means of the spring to a vertical position. of rotation of the rotatable bars.

The first rotatable bar 146 has associated therewith a relay 151 and a restraining spring 152 which is connected to an anchor post 153. The second rotatable bar 147 has associated therewith a relay 154 and a restraining spring V155 Which is 'connected to an anchor post 156. The third rotatable bar 148 has associated thercwith a relay 157 and a restraining spring 158 which is connected to an anchor post 159. The fourth rotatable bar 149 has associated therewith a relay 160 and a restraining spring 161 Which is connected to an anchor post 162.

It should be noted that in FIG. 8 the first three rotatable bars 146, 147, 148 have been rotated counterclockwise, indicating that the relays 151, 154 and 157 associated therewith have been energized. However, the fourth rotatable bar 149' remains in its vertical position, indicating that relay 160` has not been energized.

Analogous to the previous description with respect to FIG. 5, the rotatable bar 146 is considered to represent the l binary digit; the rotatable bar 147, the 2 binary digit; the rotatable bar `1118, the 4 binary digit; and the rotatable bar 1419, the 8 binary digit. Furthermore, it is assumed that the vertical position of a rotatable bar Stops (not shown) are used to limit the amount V I tinvention.

v14'5 of the indicium plate 1311', thereby allowing. the vindicium plate 31' to drop out of the preselected alignmentunder the urging of the springs 1411. However, all the remaining indiciuml plates in the device remain in the preselected ali-gnment, since the rotatab'le bars 146- 1119V do not engage all of the binary coded indentations of any of the remaining plates. Therefore, the display device displays the number 7, by the process previously described With respect to FIGS. 2-6.

VA plate re-alignment bar 165 is operated by a pair of relays 166--1167 when it is desired to return the plates to the preselected alignment. Energization of these realignment relays 166, 167 lifts the re-alignrnent bar 165 vertically, causing the indentations 142-145 to be lifted clear of the rotatable bars 146-149. The rotatable bars are then returned to their normally vertical position byde-energizing the energized relays associated there- With. The iuminous device is thereupon ready for the display of another indicium by rotating the appropriate rotatable bars, so as to cause the displacernent of another indicium plate from the preselected alignment.

An increase in the speed of operation is achieved by energizingthe relays in accordance with the next indicium to be displayed by the device prior to energizing the re-alignment, relays 166, 167. When the rotatable bar relays 15-1, 154, 157 and 160 are ener-gized, the indentations of. the displaced plate engage the rotatable `bars 146-149 so as to prevent their movement in an amount sufiicient to allow the displacement of another plate. The re-alignment relays 166, 167 are then energ-ized causing the r e-ali'gnrnent bar 165 to lift the displaced plate clear of the rotatable bars 146-149. The rotatable bars 146-149 then rotate in accordance With the energization of the relays 15-1, 154, 157, 1611. The re-alignment bar is then dropped by de-energizing the re-alignment relays 166, 167. Thereupon, the indentations of an indicium plate engage each of the rotatable bars 146-149, and that plate is displaced by the action of its springs 140, as previously described.

FIGURE 9 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the An indicium plate 31 is identical to'the plate-31' except -for the interior shape of its indentations. In the indicium plate 31, each of the lbinary coded substantially rectangular indentations 'consist of a major indentation and a minor indentation. The major indentation corresponds to a portion of the single indentation of the indicium plate 31'` (FIG. 7), and the minor indentation corresponds to the peripheral surface adjacent the indentations of the indicium plate 31'.

The indicium plate 311" has a 1 major indentation 1142' and a 1 minor indentation 170`` separated by a step 171 whose function Will be described With respect vto FIG. 10. The step is preferable but not essential for the operation of the display device utilizing indicium plates constructed as is illustrated in FIG. 9. The 2 digit has a major indentation `1113' and a minor indentation 172 separated by a step 173. The 4 binary digit has a major indentation 144' and a minor indentation tions all have the major indentation to the left of the [minor indentation as viewed in FIG. 9, Whereas the 8 indentation has the major indentation to the right of the minor indentation. Utilizing a binary code in Which a major indentation to the right of the related minor indentation indicates a binary 0 and a major indentation to the left of the related minor indentation indicates a binary 1, it is seen that the indicium plate 31 has a binary code of 01111 on its lower peripheral surface. *Referring back to the binary decimal conversion code, the indicium plate 31 therefore contains the decimal number 7.

Itshould also be noted that one edge of themajor V Referring now to FIG. 10, .there is shown an aligning and displacing device utilizing indicia plates constructed as the indicia plate 31 of FIG. 9 is constructed. The device illustrated in FIG. 10 has rotatable bars 146-149', and plate re-alignment means 'consisting of a re-alignment ,bar and re-alignment relays 166, 167. In FIG. 10, polarized relays are utilized to provide positive clock- Wise and counterclockwise rotation 'of the rotatable ibars.

The rotata'ble bar '146 has a polarized relay associated therewith which is operable to rotate the rotatable bar countercloclcwise from the vertical position in response to a fbinary l relay input, and to rot-ate the bar clockwise to the vertical position in response to a binary 0 relay input. The rotatable bars 1117, 148, 1419 have polarized relays'18l1, 132, and 11113 associated therewith, Which relays function the same yas does relay 1811.

The operation of the device of FIG. 10 is similar to that described With respect to FIG. 8. Minor indentations 11711', 172, :174, 176 together With the steps 171, '173, 175, 177 provide a means to lock the device, once operated, to prevent the re-alignment of the indicia plates unless the reset bar 165 lifts the indicia plates clear of the steps associated therewith. This looking provides a memory function in that the binary input can he determined by sensing the rotation of the rotatable bars after the device has been set to display an alphanumeric indicium.

Those plates, all of whose major indentations are not engaged by the rotatable bars 146-149, .are retained in the preselected alignment by at least one of the minor indentations and the step associated therewith. Operation of the re-alignment bar 1165 -by the energization of the realignment relays 166, 167 lifts 'all of the plate steps clear of the rotatable bars. The plates are thereby returned to the preselected ali-gnment. The device is then ready to display another indicium.

FIGURE 11 illustrates another embodi-ment of indicia plate coding. An indicium plate 31' is identical to the indicium plate 31' (FIG. 7) except Ifor the configuration of the fourvindentations. Each indentation consists of a substantially vertical side and an arcuate side. By referring to FIG. 11 With respect to FIGS. 7 and 9', it is seen that the substantially vertical side of each indentation is aligned With the side of a major indentation remote from the minor indentation in FIG. 9, and with one of the sides of an indentation in FIG. 7. By selecting a suitable arcuate surface material, such as Teflon, although addition of such material is not necessary, an

easily slidable contact between the rotatable bar and the arcuate surface is provided.

The indicium plate 311' has an indentation 142 corresponding to the 1 digit, indentation 146 corresponding to the 2 digit, indentation 144 corresponding to the 4 digit, and an indentation 145 ycorresponding to the 8 digit. The 1, 2, and 4 digit indentations have the arcuate side to the right of the vertical side as illustrated in FIG. ll. The 8 indentation 145 has the arcuate side to the left of the vertical side as illustrated in FIG. 11. Utilizing a code in which an arcuate side `to the right of the vertical side indicates a binary 1 andl an arcuate side to th-e left of the vertical side indicates aV binary 0, and referrin-g to the binary decimal conversion code previously given, it is seen that the plate 31'. contains the binary word 0111 andtherefore the decimal :number 7. I

Referring now to FIG. 12, a device for utilizing indicia plates constructed as illustrated in FIG. 11 is shown. The devi-ce of FIG. 12 corresponds to the device of FIG. 10 With the exception of the re-ali-gnment bar 165 and realignment relays l166, 167, Which are e-liminated.

When each of the rotatable bars 145449 is in its vertical position, the indicia plate 31' is retained in the preselected alignment. When the rotatable bars '146448 are rotated counterclockwise by the action of the relays 180482, the indicia plate 3=1" drops out of the pre-` selected alignment in response to the urgi-ng downward of the plate by the spring 1411 against the upper surface 145 (not shown) of the luminous display device. The numeral 7 is thereupon displayed by the device in the manner previously described with respect to FIGS. 7-10.

When it is desired lto reset the device illustrated in FIG. 12, binary pulses corresponding to the new indicium to be displayed are applied to the relays 180-183'. Those relays which must change their state from a to a 1 do so, causing the rotatable bars associated therewith to rotate counterclockwise. Those relays which must change their state from a 1 to a 0 do so, causing the rotatable bars -associated therewith to rotate clockwise. The rotation of iany bar engaging an indentation of a displaced plate causes the plate to be returned to vthe preselected alignment. When the bars are rotated to correspond to the new indicium to be displayed, the appropriate plate is displaced by the action of its springs 140 (not shown) against the upper surface l145 I(not shown) of the display device.

In the binary decimal conversion code previously given, theenergization of the relays 1304183 'by a binary 0 will result in the display of the decimal number 0, since ythe code il-lustrates the decimal 0 as corresponding to the binary digit 0000. Supression of zeros may be easily .accomplished by changing the binary word corresponding to a desimal 0. For example, the binary Word corresponding to a decimal 0 may 'be selected to be 1010. 1

'FIGURE 13 (pants A, B and C taken together) illustrates a system by which a binary check for theproper rotation of the rotatable bars 146-149* may be obtained. In FLIG. 13 the rotatable bar 146 is indicated in a vertical position. A contact element indicated generally at 1% `consists of an 0 contactor portion 191 and a 1 contactor portion =192 separated by an insulating board 1%.

The contact element19d is connected to a support board 1194 which is supported above the relay bars 146449 until they binary check is to -be made. The 0 contactor portion :1911 has a wing tip contact 195 and the 1 contactor portion 192 has a |wing tip contact 11%. The 0 wing tip contact 195 is suspended above a feeler contact 197 connected in series With a battery 198, a load resistance 199, and ground or a common connection. The 1 Wing tip contact 196 is suspended above a feeler contact 2.00 connected in series With a battery 201, a load resistance 202, and ground .or a common connection.

In actuality, the contact support board 1914 has tourl ,is lowered. The Wing tip contacts 195, 196 thereupon make contact with the associated feeler contacts 197, 200'.

The rotatable bar |146 is set 1in a vertical position, shown in lFIG. '113 (B), by the action of its associated relay. When the contact support board 194- is lowered, an electrical circuit -is completed from the ground or common connection through the rotatable bar 146, the 0 wing Itip contact V1195, the 0 feeler contact 197, the 0 battery 198, andthe 0. load resistance 199. Therefore, a voltage drop occurs across the 0 load resistance 199, indicating that the rotatab'le arm 146 is in the 10 position. The 0 load resistance 199* may, for example, be a dilferential relay coil in a circuit similar to that to be described with respect to FIG. ,15. No voltage drop enislts across the 1 load resistance 202 since no electrical circuit is completed through the 1 contactor 1192, even though the 1 wing tip contact 1% is in contact with the 1 feeler contact 200.

In FIG. l13\(*C) the rotatable bar 146 has been rotated to the 1 position by the action of its associated relay. The contact support board-11941| has been dropped and the rotatable arm "1345 now makes contact with the 1 contactor 192.. An electrical circuit |is completed through the rotatablc arm 14.6, the 1 contactor 192, the 1 Wing tip contact 1%, the 1 feeler contact 2001, the 1 battery 201, and the 11 load resistance 202. A Voltage drop therefore occurs across the 1 load resistance 2.02, indicating that the rotatalw'le bar 146V is in the ll position. The l load resistance .202 may, for example, be a difierential relay coil such `as is described with respect to FIG. 15.

FIGURE 14 -illustrates a method for obtaining an output in a unique electrical circuit in response to the displacement of a particular plate from the preselected alignment. The displacement of the particular plate indicaites that Ithe indiciurn associated (therewith is being displayed. By completing a unique electrical circuit in response to the displacement of the plate, binary to alphanumenic conversion is accomplished. The electrical circuit may, for example, be the print circuit in a printout device.

In FIG. 14(A) an indicium plate 311V is indicated as being retained in the preselected alignment. The indicium plate 311V differs from the findicium plates prevlously described in that the plate 311117 has a notch 209 formed in one of its vertically moving side-s. A first feeler contact 2110 rides against an electrical conducting surface on the side of the plate 311V and is connected to ground or a common connection. A second feeler contact 2.11 rides in the notch 209 While the plate 3i11V is retained in the preselected alignmenft. The second feeler contact 211 is connected in series with a battery 2112., a load resistance 2:13, and ground or a common connection. So long as the plate 311V is retained in the ypreselected al-ignment, as is illustnated in FIG. 14-(A),

no voltage drop across the load resistance 213 occurs.

In FIG. 14(B) the indicium pflate 31.1V has been displaced downward from the preselected aliignment by the action of the springs and the rotatable bars 146-149. The second feeler contaotor 2,11 now contacts an electrical conducting surface 214 along the edge of the plate i31117. An electrical circuit lis thereby completed from ground or a common connection through tlhe first :feeler contact 210, the Conducting surface 2,14, the second lfeeler contact 211, the battery 212, the load resistance 213, and ground or the common connection. 'Ilhe Voltage drop across the load resistance 213 indicates (that 'the plateV 311V has been displaced. The load re'- sistance 213 may, for example, be the coil for the print magnet of an electrical pn'ntout device.

FIGURE 15 illustrates a control system for setting up the display Vshown in FIG. 1. The number 387 is to be displayed by means of the display device 12, 13 and 14-` (FIG. il).

Three input switches 220, 22.1, 222 of a series of input switches have setting selectors 225, 226, 227 associated therewitlh. The input switches 220; 22111, 222 are Vthe relay contacts 246-249' are open.

the appropriate input selector switch 220-222, the appropriate binary bus 230, and through a diiferential relay to ground or the common connection.

' In FIG. 15 four differential relays 233, 234, 2315, 236 are shown corresponding to the 1, 2, 4 and 8 binary digits respectively. Each of the binary buses 230 is connected directly to the upper input of the differential relay 233-236 associated therewith. The lower input of the diiferential relays 233-236 is connected to the-binary buses 230 through contacts 240, 241, 242,

243, respectively, of anormally de-energized check relay 245. 'Therefore, the completion of a circuit in a binary bus 230 will cause both sides of the dilferential relay associated therewiflh to be ,energized The ditferential relays 233-236 have normally open contacts 246, '247, 240, 249, respectively, associated therewith. The relay contacts 246-249 are parallel connected with respect to each other and are each connected in series with =a stop and alarm circuit V250. Thus, the stop and alarm circuit is de-energized so long as all of However, when any one of the relay contacts 246-249V is closed by the action of the differential relay associated therewith, the stop -and alarm circuit 250 will be energized. When a binary bus 230 is energized to complete an electrical circuit therethrough, the electrical circuit is completed through both s-ides of the diiferential relays 233-236 associated therewith. Therefore, the relay contacts 246- 249' remain in 'the open position.

Each of the dilferential relays 233-236 has a display device input stepping switch 253, 254, 255, 256 associated therewith. The completion of the circuit through the contacts240-243 of rthe check relay 245 completes 'an electrical circuit through the respective display device input stepping switch 253-256 to one of the display devices 12-14. Each of the display device input stepping switches 253-256 has contacts A, B, C, D, E, and F. The A and B contacts are connected to the luminous display device 12, the C and D contacts, to the luminous display device 13, and the E and F contacts, to the luminous display device 14.

A stepping switch 257 lserves to complete an electrical circuit between the electrical potential source 231 and the check relay 245, so as to energize the check relay.

A stepping switch 2581applies reset pulses generated by a reset pulse generator 259 to the luminous display devices i12, 13, -14L The stepping switches 232, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257 and 258 are ganged together and are driven by a stepping motor 260. A reset button 261 serves to actuate the stepping motor 260 to'set the stepping switches 232, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258 to the positions shown in FIG. 15. The motor 260 then steps the switches progressively through the contact positions.

Assume that the decimal number 3 is to be displayed on a luminous display device 12 and that the luminous display` device 12 includes an actuating system such as is illustrated with respect to FIG. 8. The decimal selector 225 is set to the number 3; The reset button 261 i-s operated, causing the stepping motor 260 to place the stepping switches 232, 253, 254, 255, 256, 2157, 21-50 in the positions shown in FiIIG. 15

When the lstepping switch 232 is in the position shown in FIG. 15, the input switch 220 completes electrical circuits 'through the 1 and 2 binarybuses, correspondwhich is transmitted by the stepping switch 258 to the luminous display device 12. The relays I166, l167 (FIG.

8) -are energized thereby to momentarily actuate the realignment bar 165. When the re-alignment bar 165 is released, the desired plate is displaced through the action of the springs and the rotatable bars 146-149.

In :order to check for the proper position of the rotatable bars 146-149, a binary checkcircuit is included.

`The binary check is made by comparing ,the states of energization of the binary buses 230 with the rotation position of the rotatable bars 146-149. As was described with respect to FIG. 13, an electrical circuit is` completed to indicate whether the rotatable bar is in the 0 position or is in the 1 position. In the circuit to be described hereinafter, it will be assumed that the completion of an electrical circuit indicates that the bar is in the 1 position and that the absence of a completed electrical circuit indicates that the bar is in the 0 position. Similarly, the binary buses 230 are only energized when a binary l is to be applied to the luminous device.

To initiate the binary check, the stepping switches 232, 253-258 are rotated clockwise one position from that shown in FIG. 15. The check relay 245 is thereby energized by means of the circuit completed through the stepping switch 257. The contacts 240-243 thereupon open.

Electrical circuits remain completed between the upper portions of relays 233, 234 and the 1 and 2 binary buses associated therewith. The openi-ng of the contacts 240-243 removes the circuit Continuity between the lower sections of the differential relays 233-236 and the binary buses 230. lStepping relays 253-256 have advanced to their B positions. In .its B position, a stepping relay connects the 1 position output check circuits' illustrated in FIG. 13 to their diffei'ential relays. The 1 load resistance illustrated in FIG. 13 as resistor 202 is comprised of the lower portion of the appropriate difand `247 remain open. As no circuit is completed between either the Vupper or lower portions of lthe 4 and 8 differential relays V235 and 236, contacts 248 `and 249 remain open.

Should one of the rotatable |bars=1i46-1l t9 Ibe in the incorrect position for the proper display of the alphanumeric equivalent of the binary input signal, an unbal- *ance will occur in one of 'the diiferential relays, thereby closing the diiferential relay contact associated'therewith. `Closure of a diiferential relay contact will energize the stop and alarm circuit 250. The stop and alarm circuit 250 stops the operation of the stepping motor 260 and gives a visual or Iaudible indication of the alarm circuit energization. Such an unbalance in a ditferential relay during checking occurs either. when the binary bus associated with the relay is energized and the 1 check circuit of FIG. 13 associated therewith is not energized, or when the binary bus is not energized and the 1 check circuit `associated therewith is energized. Thus, a binary input Voutput :check is accoinplished.

The lurninous devices 13 and 14 are set by the opera- -tion of the switches 221, 222 in the same manner as described for the operation of the luminous display device .12.

FIGURE 16 illustrates the circuit connections for one of the setting switches as shown in FIG. 15. The setting switch 220 Vconsists of four banks of contacts, in I,

13 Which each bank has ten contacts. The connections shown in FIG. 16 are made to set up the binary conversion code previously described, with the exception that zero suppression is accomplished by the use of the binary Word 1010 to indicate the decimal 0. The switch 220 vhas a contactor arm 270 which is ganged to the setting selector 225. Isolating diodes 271, 272, 273 and 274 tacts 275, 276, 277 and 273, respectively.

When the contactor arm 270 is rotated to its 3 vposi- `areiconnected between the contactor arm 220 and contion by rotating the setting selector 225, the contacts 275-127 8 are brought contact with the 3 contacts 280, 281, I282, 283, respectively, of the switch 2.20. When the switch 232 closes in response to the stepping motor V p '233 (FIG. as previously described. The 4 and 8 binary buses 23M4) and 230%8) are not energized, since no electrical circuits are completed through contacts 289l and '28'1 to these buses. Therefore, the binary number 0011 is indicated by the binary bus energization states.

Luminous display devices containing the', described binary check circuitry are also utilizable as an information storage. By operating thebinary check system and utilizing either one or both of the 0 and l load resistances 199, 202 as the storage input impedances, the -binary word whose alphanumeric equivalent is being displayed can be obtained. .Thus, the display can be read .back into a permanent storage prior to resetting the devices with a new display.

The indicia plates may'bereadily formed by a photo etching process. -In this process a `large master of each indicium plate is fabricated. The master plate is then photographed. The negative of the master photograph is considerably reduced in size over the master. This negative is utilized as the pattern lfor forming the actual plates used. By fabricatin-g a master plate of considerably greater size than the plates' actually to be used, extremely close tolerances can :be achieved, due to the reduction in size accompanying the photographic process. Both the light transmissive pattern and the rbinary coded indentations are readily produced by this process. Similar-ly, the springs 140 `are formed during the photo etching process. The indicium plates produced by this process are metal- Ilie, thereby serving to produce plates of extreme durability and precision. It is thus economically practical to produce the plates described hereinbefore.

I claim:

1. An alphanumeric display device comprising a translucent display screen, a plurality of movable plates, a fixed plate, the movable plates land fixed plate having corresponding uniform patterns of transparent and opaque areas, a source of light, Ithe plates being positioned in parallel relation to each other between the source of light and the display screen with the opaque areas of the plates in alignment with each other and the transparent areas in a-lignment with each other, Whereby light [from the source projects the pattern of transparent area on to the screen, each plate having a modified pattern such that when a plate is shifted relative to the fixed plate by a predetermined amount, the light pattern on the screen is modified to correspond to some identifiable alphanumeric character, a source o f :binary coded information Signals, binary decoding means connected 'to said source and operable upon receipt of a binary coded signal to shift one of said movable plates, whereby a selected alphanumeric character image is produced on the screen corresponding to the binary coded information, switch means 14 actuated by the decoding means for generating a checking signal, and means for comparing the checking signal with the binary coded information signal Vfrom said source to indicate the displacement of the correct plate.

2. VApparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the pattern on the .fixed plate and the movable plates is a checker board pattern of alternate transparent and Opaque squares of equal size, the movable plate having selected squares reversed from the normal pattern such that a group of normally opaque squares `are made transparent, the positioning of reversed squares corresponding to the general shape of an alphanumeric character.

3. An alphanurneric display device comprising a translucent display screen, a plurality of movable plates, a fixed plate, the movable plates and fixed plate having corresponding uniform patterns of equal transparent and opaque areas, a source of light, the plates being positioned in parallel relation to each other between the source of light and the display screen with the opaque areas of the plates in alignment with each other and the transparent areas in alignment with each other, whereby light from the source projects the pattern of transparent areas on to the screen, each plate having a modified pattern such that when a plate is shifted relative to the fixed plate by an amount equal to the width of an opaque area, the light pattern on the screen is modified to correspond to some identifiable alphanumeric character, a source of binary coded information signals, and binary decoding means connected to said source and operable upon receipt of a binary coded signal to shift one of said movable plates, whereby a selected alphanumeric character image is prol duced on the screen corresponding to the binary coded information.

4. An alphanumeric display device comprising a translucent display screen, -a plurality of movable plates, a fixed plate, the movable plates and `fixed plate having corresponding uniform patterns of transparent and opaque areas, a source of light, the plates being positioned in parallel relation to each other between the source of light and the display screen with the opaque areas of the plates in alignnient with each other and the transparent areas in alignment with each other, each plate having a modified pattern such that .when a plate is shifted relative to the fixed plate by a predetermined amount, the light pattern on the screen is modified to correspond to some identifiable alphanumeric character, and means 'for selectively Shifting one of said movable plates, Whereby a selected alphanumeric character image is produced on the screen. p '5. Apparatus las defined in claim 4 Wherein said decodin-g means'inclu'des Ia plurality of movable elements arranged to engage the movable plates and means for positioning fthe elements in one of two positions in response to said binary information Signals. from said source, the *number of elements engalging any one plate being equal to the number of binary Ibits in the information signal, the elements :being arranged to d-isplalce a different one of the plates in response to each particular positional pattern of the elements.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the movable plates have `Lcoded notches along one edge, the elements being arranged to move into and :out of alignment with the notches depending upon the position of the elements in relation to the notches in each plate.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6y wherein the notches form camming surfaces engageable with said elements, the elements in a notch, when moved to its opposite position, engalgin-g the cammin-g surface and moving the associate plate by the action of the elements` moving against the camrning surface.

8. A digital display device 'comprfising a plurality of movable plates, at least tone fixed plate, the fixed plate having Ia cheoker Jboard pattern of transparent and opaque spots and each of the movable plates having a checker board pattern of transparent and opaque spots -b-ut with 1 5 selected spots lbeing reversed in light transmission properties from the normal Checker board pattern, each movable plate having `a unique pattern formed by the selected reversed s-pots, the mova'ble plates and fixed plate being vpositioned in ollosely spaced parallel relationship, a light sounce for directing light through all the plates 'through aligned transparent spots, a translucent display screen,

and means for selectively Shifting -any one' of the movable 'Plates in a idirection Parallel to -t'he other plates by a distance substantially equal to an integral multiple of the Width of tone spot.

References Citezl in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS =Kell Mar. 10, 1931 Masohmeyer July 6, 1943 Bless Aug. 19, 1947 Robbins Sept. 7, 1948 Myers June 26, 1951 Shepherd Aug. 5, 1952 Handley June 23, 1953 Kantz Oct. 20, 1959 

1. AN ALPHANUMERIC DISPLAY DEVICE COMPRISING A TRANSLUCENT DISPLAY SCREEN, A PLURALITY OF MOVABLE PLATES, A FIXED PLATE, THE MOVABLE PLATES AND FIXED PLATE HAVING CORRESPONDING UNIFORM PATTERNS OF TRANSPARENT AND OPAQUE AREAS, A SOURCE OF LIGHT, THE PLATES BEING POSITIONED IN PARALLEL RELATION TO EACH OTHER BETWEEN THE SOURCE OF LIGHT AND THE DISPLAY SCREEN WITH THE OPAQUE AREAS OF THE PLATES IN ALIGNMENT WITH EACH OTHER AND THE TRANSPARENT AREAS IN ALIGNMENT WITH EACH OTHER, WHEREBY LIGHT FROM THE SOURCE PROJECTS THE PATTERN OF TRANSPARENT AREA ON TO THE SCREEN, EACH PLATE HAVING A MODIFIED PATTERN SUCH THAT WHEN A PLATE IS SHIFTED RELATIVE TO THE FIXED PLATE BY A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT, THE LIGHT PATTERN ON THE SCREEN IS MODIFIED TO CORRESPOND TO SOME IDENTIFIABLE ALPHANUMERIC CHARACTER, A SOURCE OF BINARY CODED INFORMATION SIGNALS, BINARY DECODING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SOURCE AND OPERABLE UPON RECEIPT OF A BINARY CODED SIGNAL TO SHIFT ONE OF SAID MOVABLE PLATES, WHEREBY A SELECTED ALPHANUMERIC CHARACTER IMAGE IS PRODUCED ON THE SCREEN CORRESPONDING TO THE BINARY CODED INFORMATION, SWITCH MEANS ACTUATED BY THE DECODING MEANS FOR GENERATING A CHECKING SIGNAL, AND MEANS FOR COMPARING THE CHECKING SIGNAL WITH THE BINARY CODED INFORMATION SIGNAL FROM SAID SOURCE TO INDICATE THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE CORRECT PLATE. 